Death of Mrs Farnham - Funeral Quorn

Leicester Daily Mercury - Saturday 14th October 1911

The death is announced of Mrs E B Farnham, which took place on Monday at her residence, Eccleston Square, London. The deceased lady who was born on July 4, 1831, and was in her 81st year, was the second daughter of Sir William E C Hartopp, Bart, of Sutton Coldfield. She was married on July 2nd 1851 to the late Mr. Edward Basil Farnham, of Quorn House, who was M.P. for the Northern Division of Leicestershire from 1837 to 1859, and died on May 13th. 1879.

The house of Farnham is one of the oldest in the county. Its records go back to the reign Henry III when Robert of Farnham received a grant of land from Hugh de Arundel within the old Barony of Barrow, the land that time being designated as having been enclosed from Charnwood Forest by the Earl of Chester, who received it in fee grant from William the Conqueror.

The Leicester Assizes 1284 state that the then Earl of Chester enclosed a piece of land from the waste of the Forest of Charnwood, so that there should be no common rights over it.

From the time of Henry III to the present day 18 generations of the Farnham family have resided at Quorn, the descent being traced in the direct male line. The present house was erected in 1820 and is supposed to occupy the site of the old family mansion, although the only trace that can be found in ancient writings in proof of this, is a reference to the wood which shelters the park on the south side.

The present head of the family is Mr. George Farnham, who a few years ago came to reside at Quorn House, much to the satisfaction of the residents of Quorn and the surrounding district.

The funeral of Mrs Farnham took place at Quorn on Friday. The body was brought from London on Thursday, and rested during the night at Quorn House. The blinds of all the principal houses in the village were drawn as the cortege passed. The coffin was met at the south-east gate by the Vicar (the Rev H. H Rumsey), and surpliced choir, who preceded the funeral party, singing, “For all the saints who from labours rest”. The service was held in the Farnham Chapel, and was conducted the Rev. H. H. Rumsey. The hymn, “The heavenly word proceeding forth," was sung, and the cortege then made its way to the family vault at the east end of the chapel, where the committal sentences were said, and the hymn, “Abide with me, fast falls the eventide,’’ was sung.

The service in the chapel was very impressive. The coffin, which bore a raised cross and one wreath, was placed at the head of the monument to one the Farnhams who served Queen Elizabeth. The tomb had been adorned with white lilies, from which rose a brass cross, and at the foot were four wreaths, “From all at 25 Eccleston Square” from Ladv Augusta Palmer, Mr and Mrs. E H Warner, and Captain and Mrs Heygate.